495 Martinis & More

French bartender Fernand Petiot claimed to have invented the Bloody Mary back in 1921 in the famed New York Bar in Paris and which later became known as Harry's New York Bar – iconic hangout spot frequented by American expatriates and international socialites like Ernest Hemingway, Humphrey Bogart, Aly Khan, Coco Chanel, Prince Serge Obolensky and many others.

It was in early 1940s in New York City’s Chatham Hotel bar that two friends – John Martin (distributor of Smirnoff vodka) and Jack Morgan (owner of Cock’n’Bull Saloon Ginger Beer) decided to mix their products in a drink, giving birth to one of the iconic cocktails of the 20th century.

The story has it that Screwdriver originated in late 1940’s in Iran where American oil engineers stationed in the desert were discreetly adding vodka to their orange juice to cool off during work shifts and stirring it with nearest thing at hand – usually a screwdriver attached to their tool belts…

White Russian Cocktail was first mentioned in Boston Globe newspaper on March 21, 1965 in an advertisement for now defunct Coffee Southern liqueur brand which quoted a recipe of “...1 oz. each Southern, vodka, cream". The White Russian gained further popularity after 1998 when it was featured in Hollywood’s movie The Big Lebowski as the drink of choice for the main protagonist - Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski.

The story has it that Black Russian cocktail was first mixed in Brussel’s Hotel Metropole by local bartender Gustave Tops for Mrs. Perle Mesta – American socialite, political hostess and US Ambassador to Luxembourg at the time. The Cold War just unleashing, so creating a dark mysterious cocktail with Russian vodka and coffee liqueur was pretty much relevant.

There are quite a few versions of Cosmopolitan cocktail creation, but the most recognized one credits it to Toby Cecchini – the bartender at The Odeon restaurant in Manhattan, New York in 1987. However, it was not until the airing of Sex in the City TV series in late 1990’s that the ‘Cosmo’ hit the pop culture icon status.

The Salty dog emerged as a twist on another cocktail classic – the Greyhound cocktail. The legend has it that it was American actor George Jessel in 1950s who decided to add a salt rim to the popular combination of vodka and grapefruit juice as a way to increase the palatability of the drink and to balance the bitterness of a grapefruit. In fact, the salt rim is the only difference between the Salty dog and the Greyhound.

It is rumored that back in 1960s Tom Harvey was a surfer at Manhattan Beach, California who liked adding some Galliano liqueur into his vodka Screwdrivers – the ingredients which make up the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. Cruising from bar to bar after a day of surfing Harvey used to ‘park’ his surfboard by banging it against the bar wall – and that’s how this cocktail classic gained its name.

This cocktail classic is named after Cape Cod, Massachusetts – the fish-shaped peninsula where some of the first Europeans settled back in early 1600’s and where they found thickets of indigenous North American berry – the cranberry.

With it complex and vivid combination of ingredients coming from different parts of the world including 495 Russian Vodka, lemon cordial, vermouth and cacao liqueur this cocktail pays tribute to Moscow’s bright 1980 Olympics games.

Our take on the classic El Presidente cocktail where Cuban rum gives way to Russian vodka. Just like history has seen Presidents giving way to Chairmen of State Councils…

Brodsky to the Russian poetry is just like a Bellini cocktail to Venice. No surprise that the two ‘have met’ on numerous occasions in Harry’s Bar in Brodsky’s beloved City of Canals. This twist on the classic Bellini reveals an unexpected fusion of peach and cucumber.

Sour cocktails fans will appreciate this signature serve combining crispy 495 Cucumber Vodka, avocado syrup and lemon juice. Fresh and silky – just like the air in Moscow’s famed Gorky Park after the summer rain.

A twist on Breakfast Martini, this deep cocktail with 495 Pomegranate Vodka pays homage to now defunct Intourist Hotel. A legendary place in 1970s Moscow boasted one of the city’s few ‘hard currency’ cocktail bars – accessible only to foreign tourists and undercover KGB officers…

It’s all about being ‘red’ and being ‘fast’! A zesty fusion of 495 Pomegranate Vodka and bloody orange cordial received its name after the famous ‘Red Arrow’ train. With its distinctive dark-red carriages it started cruising between Moscow and Leningrad (now Saint-Petersburg) in 1931 and was the first train in the Soviet Union to offer 1st class compartments and other extra amenities to the travelers.

Taking its name after the famous late 1980s Russian pop band, this take on the classic Russian Spring Punch cocktail combines sweet notes of 495 Aronia Vodka, lime cordial and raspberry liqueur with crispy freshness of dry sparkling wine.

This sweet enchanting mix of 495 Aronia Vodka, lemon cordial and rose flowers syrup bares its name from ‘Moscow Lights’ candies. Having first appeared on store shelves in Russia in 1960’s these iconic sweets in distinctive lilac-purple wrapper featuring on of the Moscow’s ‘Seven Sisters’ skyscrapers are still available nowadays.

'Love and doves’ movie is a soviet romantic comedy by Oscar-winning director Vladimir Menshov shot at Mosfilm studio in Moscow in 1985. Love & Dove cocktail is a take on the classic Americano with sweet red vermouth and Italian bitter being complimented by 495 Rhubarb Vodka.

Refreshing and tender this pink relative of the classic Ramos Gin Fizz combines 495 Rhubarb Vodka, cream, soda and freshly squeezed rhubarb juice.